Research On Composite Molding Process In Autoclave Based On FEA

To solve the problems that curing process causes uneven curing of composite part prepared inautoclave and traditional tool design method is low efficiency, high cost and can not control partdeformation quantificationally. This work is supported by National S&T support project andrequirements from aviation enterprises. In order to address the issues that analysis model of compositecuring process in autoclave is high complex, influence of process parameters and tool on compositecuring deformation is not clear and tool surface compensation is not mature, curing processparameters and tool of composite part prepared in autoclave is deeply studied based on FEA. Themain fruits of this paper are as follows:1) Influence of the autoclave curing process parameters on the temperature field of thethermosetting composite material is studied based on FEA. Finite element analysis model ofcuring process of composite part is developed based on thermosetting composite material heatconduction and curing exothermic model with tool effect considered. Influence of curingprocess parameters on the temperature field of composite is analyzed quantificationally.2) Tool influence to process-induced deformation of cylindrical composite part is studied basedon FEA. To analyze the multi-field coupling relationship in curing process according to theproblem of process-induced deformation of the composite part prepared in autoclave. Finiteelement analysis model of curing process of the composite part is developed with tool effectconsidered. Based on the FEA model, The effect of process-induced deformation of the parton material, thickness and form of the tool is studied.3) Tool compensation approach based on FEA is presented. Finite element analysis model ofcuring process of composite part is developed to analyze part deformation. According todisplacements of the part surface nodes after deformation, tool surface is compensated by thedisplacement of composite part analyzed by FEA to control part deformation. A cylindricalcomposite part is analyzed to verify the approach, and the result proves the correctness andvalidity of the approach.4) The curing analysis system for composite part prepared in autoclave is developed onABAQUS platform. This system can realize composite curing temperature field analysis,curing deformation analysis and tool surface compensation.